When Austin’s annual celebration rolls around this July, it will
be all about families coming together.
“It’s one of the events that truly brings out everybody in
town,” said Jeff Baldus, Member Relations & Major Events Coordinator and the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s always a great time.”
Festivities start Saturday, June 30 with a five-mile run, a children’s fishing contest, a bike race a geo-caching contest, a car
show and a street dance.
Old favorites remain, but newer activities such as The
Hormel Institute second annual “Walk for a Cancer-Free
World,” and the Little Miss Sparkler & Firecracker King Pageant
are expected to draw a crowd, too.
Running June 30-July 4, Freedom Fest attracts thousands of
residents and visitors and culminates with the “Grand Old
Fourth” celebration, which includes a parade and fireworks.
New this year are the “Amazing Budabi Brothers” juggling
act, a bird show with a bald eagle from The Raptor Center in
Minneapolis, and water wars organized by the Austin Fire Department.
Baldus said the Chamber hasn’t finalized the schedule, so
there still may be a few events to add.
The parade route will stay the same, marching down Main
Street from Eighth Avenue NW to Ninth Place SW.
The Morning Lions will also host their annual Fly-In Breakfast
from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 1 at the Austin Airport.
Bandshell Community Park is the center of activities for
food, music and family entertainment July 3-4. The Chamber
has scheduled continuous stage entertainment along with children’s rides, carnival games and contests, food concessions,
and arts and crafts show. Costumed characters and magicians
will entertain throughout the grounds. Bandshell stage entertainment includes musical and dance performers, with the
Austin Community Band, The Austin Symphony Orchestra, 3
Lane Band, the Austin Big Band, The Schell’s Hobo Band and
Six Mile Grove.
Baldus said Bandshell Park are always popular, with families
setting up with blankets and picnic baskets.
“Seeing the families come together is always a neat thing,”
Baldus said.

Veteran Dan Stewart looks to the crowd as someone calls his name during the parade last year. Herald file photo
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - DISCOVER SUMMER

NEW TRADITIONS: VISION 2020

Eyes on tomorrow
By Adam Harringa
Unless you’re new to Austin
or just woke from a coma,
chances are you’ve heard of Vision 2020.
The grassroots community
betterment
project
was
launched in 2011 and after narrowing 4,000 submitted ideas
to 91 and then 30, it now has
10 major ideas to implement by
the end of the decade.
“This is the most inclusive,
open civic project of its kind
that Austin, Minnesota, has attempted,” Vision 2020 chair
Gary Ray said after unveiling the
top 10 ideas.
Vision 2020 stems from a
meeting with city officials of

Dubuque, Iowa, in February
2011. There Austinites learned
how Dubuque went from having a 23 percent unemployment rate to being named the
best small city to raise a family
by Forbes Magazine and was
ranked seventh in the country
for
job
growth
by
economy.com, all in a little over
a decade.
Now, Austin hopes to mirror
that success with 10 ideas of its
own starting this summer. The
group formed 10 project committees in May and is just beginning to define the visions in
more concrete terms. To join
the movement, contact the
Austin Area Chamber of Commerce at 507-437-4561.

Vision 2020 at a glance
What: A grassroots community betterment project charged with implementing 10 major initiatives by 2020.
Who: Anyone interested. To sign up as a project committee member, visit vision2020austin.com. For more information, call the Austin Area Chamber
of Commerce at 507-437-4561.

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AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - DISCOVER SUMMER

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012

5

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT: PARAMOUNT THEATRE, CONCERT FOR THE CURE
By Jason Schoonover
The Paramount Theatre is about to kick
off a first this summer.
“This is the first time we are doing an
official summer season,” Executive Director Jennie Germain said.
The Paramount debuts its Summer
Under the Stars at 7:30 p.m. June 2, with
a performance by Charlie Parr and the
Bosso Poetry Company.

Though the Paramount traditionally
has a number of shows scheduled each
year, Germain said an official summer
season allows for more promotional efforts.
“That’s pretty exciting for us,” she said.
More than a dozen events are planned
this summer at the historic theater.
The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra will
play a show at 7:30 p.m. July 12 with
Bethany Larson and the Bees Knees.

“Bethany Larson is actually from
Austin, and her band is kind of making it
big in the cities right,” Germain said.
The show will be recorded and broadcast by KSMQ and KMSU.
Germain also said the Paramount is
working to line up some local performers
for the Austin Art Works Festivals as part of
the open house at the Austin Utilities
Building, but the performers haven’t been
finalized yet.

A soundtrack to Austin’s summer
— PARAMOUNT SCHEDULE —

— PARAMOUNT SCHEDULE —

Charlie Parr and the Bosso Poetry Company

Rubber Soul the Tribute

When: 7:30 p.m. June 2
Tickets: $12 in advance, $15 at the door,
$5 for students

Austin native
Bethany Larson and the
Bees Knees
will play
with Galactic
Cowboy orchestra July
12 at the
Paramount.

Patsy Cline Story with Coco
Walters
When: 7:30 p.m. June 16
Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 at the door,
$5 for students

Delmar Ramaker Memorial Concert for the Cure
By Jason Schoonover
The Delmar Ramaker Memorial Concert
for the Cure is moving to a bigger venue.
Jeff and Georgia Ramaker are planning
the annual concert in honor of Jeff’s
brother who died of colon cancer in
1998. Jeff said he and his wife are looking for anyone to volunteer or sponsor

6

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012

the concert.
“That’s how we’ll make the show bigger and better each year and make more
money,” Jeff said.
The Ramakers will likely move the show
to a new venue: the Mower County Fairgrounds grandstand.
“We’re moving to a bigger venue, and
we’re hoping that will increase seating

space and appeal to people,” Jeff said.
The concert — featuring Six Mile Grove
with Bob Wooten and Leland Martin — is
scheduled for Aug. 25. Jeff said he is looking for another act.
For the Ramakers, the concert started
as a way to honor Delmar’s memory.
“For me, it’s a way to honor him every
year and raise money for cancer,” Jeff said.

Besides honoring his brother, Jeff said,
the Lyle Area Cancer Auction has helped
by allowing him to meet other people affected by cancer.
“It’s well worth the time put into it,” he
said. “The rewards are great.”
People interested in volunteering or
sponsoring can call the Ramakers at 507208-6085 or 507-325-1284.
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - DISCOVER SUMMER

TRADITIONS: MOWER COUNTY FAIR

Racing toward the fair
By Adam Harringa

Madison Christenson goes for a ride last year on the midway of the
Mower County Fair. The 2012 fair is planned for Aug. 7-12.

Prepare for major car
crashes this year at the
2012 Mower County Fair.
The fair, Aug. 7-12, is
adding figure eight trailer
races, which organizers
hope draws a crowd. The
event features demolition
cars pulling trailers and
racing around an eightshaped track, ensuring
plenty of collisions in the
intersection.
“Any time you have a
crossover, you have some
excitement,” said Joel Nelson, media coordinator for
the fair. The race is the
grandstand event on Friday, Aug. 10.
Grandstand entertainment, which is $10 per
person and free for children 5 and under, also includes
motocross
on
Tuesday, a demolition
dirby Wednesday and Sunday, a truck and tractor
pull Thursday, and bull riding on Saturday.
The free fair will also
highlight the county’s

Adam Maxfield, of Austin, rounds a turn in a cloud of dust during
the 250 B heat race in the Motokazie motocross show at the grandstand. Herald file photo
strong suits: livestock, industry, agriculture, creativity and musical talent.
The fair’s opening ceremonies are at 7 p.m. Tues-

day, Aug. 7.
For the 30th year, Merriam’s Midway will host
carnival rides. The fish and
game building will also be

back this year.
The free stage will feature an array of performers
like the an Elvis Presley impersonator, a Garth Brooks
impersonator and karaoke.
Nelson said they are still
working on finalizing that
lineup.
Thursday will be a day
dedicated to senior citizens, and there will be a
tent of various activities for
seniors.
With the help of sponsorships from area businesses, the fair will be free
again this year.
“We’ve worked hard to
keep it a free fair,” Nelson
said. “It’s a good place to
meet your friends and visit.
Our commercial exhibits
have been very strong.”

Herald file photo

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - DISCOVER SUMMER

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012

7

OUT & ABOUT: AUSTIN DOG PARK

Hobbes, a lab and golden retriever mix belonging to Dave Goettsch, takes it easy and fetches a soft Frisbee while the people do the heavy lifting putting up fence at the dog park in May. Herald file photo

Dogs to have their
day all summer long
By Kevin Coss and Jason Schoonover
Austin residents can look forward to enjoying the weather with their dogs sans-leash
this summer.
A new dog park, located near the intersection of Main Street S and Ninth Place SW,
will allow area dogs to enjoy a fenced-in
green space dedicated to them. The park will
be free to use. Official rules of the park will
likely include keeping dogs leashed on the
way to and from the park and having all
dogs properly licensed, inoculated and
healthy.
Behind the dog park is the volunteer
group SPARK (Start a Park for Austin’s Respectable K-9s), which worked with the
Austin Area Foundation to see the park
through from conception to fruition. SPARK
organized several fundraisers, found volunteers to install fencing and approached the
City Council about getting city workers to
help drive the fence posts in.
“It’s just phenomenal to see how quickly
it’s going up,” said SPARK President Martha
Hauschildt during the fence installation.
Hormel donated the fencing from its corporate office, which pleased SPARK officials,
but required a little more manual labor. Vol-

8

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012

unteers had to use pliers to remove old
clamps.
“We saved some money, but also it’s a
community project,” Hauschildt said.
With the fencing, Hauschildt estimated
SPARK has received about $20,000 in donations.
The 100-foot rolls of wire were difficult to
move around the nearly one-acre dog park,
but Hauschildt said she was pleased to see
wrestlers volunteering to help with the heavy
lifting. She said they’ll be able to look at the
project with pride when they see the park
used for years to come.
Although the park is technically ready
able to be used, SPARK officials weren’t ready
to declare it finished.
“It’s not officially open,” Hauschildt said.
“People are using it because the fence is
there.” SPARK still has to install doors and
perform some final touches on the fence.
The park will be officially open toward the
end of May. Hauschildt said an event is in the
works to dedicate the park.
Austin Mayor Tom Stiehm praised the
dog park as a good example of citizens
showing initiative and proving that “you
don’t have to come in front of the council”
to get projects done.
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - DISCOVER SUMMER

SPORTS: RUN/BIKE RACES

Off to the races
By Rocky Hulne
Whether you’re looking to just get in a little
exercise or trying to finish in front of the pack,
there are plenty of road races and bike races
being held around the Mower County area this
summer.
The action gets started June 2 as Austin hosts
the Darren Dash, which honors and celebrates
the life of Darren Lewis, who was a competitive
runner.
The race starts and ends in Lafayette Park,
which is located on South Main St. at Eighth
Ave. SE.
Water stops are provided and the first 200
applicants will receive a goodie bag. There will
be a half marathon, a 5K, and a kiddie fun run.
On June 30, Austin will host the five-mile Hog
Jog, which is part of Freedom Fest. The race
starts and finishes at East Side Lake.
The 2x4 Bike Ride, which gives riders a
chance to see two states and four counties, starts
in St. Ansgar, Iowa and goes through Minnesota
with an option of a 25-mile, 35-mile or 50-mile
ride.
The Jordan Ressler ‘JR Foundation 2-mile
and 4-mile Run/Walk’ will be held in Blooming
Prairie July 20 and is on the BP golf course.

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AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - DISCOVER SUMMER

OUT & ABOUT: CRWD

A return for aquatic recreation
By Matt Peterson
Perhaps it’s too soon for most to view the
Cedar River as a recreational asset, but people are trying to change that.
The Cedar River Watershed District since
last year has been enrolling local groups in an
Adopt-a-River program, which it borrowed
from the Department of Natural Resources
and employed north of
Austin to the Iowa border. Participants take
trash bags and small
boats along while each
group scours its own
stretch of the Cedar.
Justin Hanson and
Tim Ruzek of the CRWD were happy to
see eight groups rake the river for trash
last summer, and three groups have committed to the program in 2012, Hanson
said.
“I think it has been very successful,” Hanson said, who also pushed for legislation with
Ruzek last year to designate a portion of the
Cedar as a State Water Trail.
They succeeded, which means with DNR

funding, the Cedar may someday receive
canoe access points and its own page on the
DNR’s website with river conditions and coordinates of access sites and other features.
Now Vision 2020 committee members
have joined the clean-water surge, as well.
Community officials and volunteers strongly
indicated that they want the Cedar for recreation and local lakes for swimming. Hanson
said Vision 2020 efforts only bolster
CRWD’s efforts as
CRWD officials focus
on water quality, and
-Justin Hanson Vision 2020 committees can focus on
creating the recreational activities.
Even the local Izaak Walton League received $15,000 in DNR funds to clear buckthorn from a north portion of the Cedar, of
which Ikes President Jim Stiles believes could
also someday be an access point.
Those interested in joining or forming a
group within the Adopt-a-River program can
contact the Mower Soil and Water Conservation’s office at 507-434-2603.

Open Streets Albert Lea – June 2
Eddie Cochran Weekend – June 8, 9, 10
Strawberry Festival on Broadway – June 30
Merriam’s Carnival – June 30 - July 4
3rd of July Parade
4th of July Fireworks
4th of July Car Show – July 4
April Sorensen’s Memorial Half Marathon – July 7
ACT Theatre “Oliver” – July 12-15, July 18-21
Wind Down Wednesdays – July 18
Battle of the Bands – July 21
Freeborn County Fair – July 31 - August 5
Wind Down Wednesdays – August 15
“Echo’s from the Past” A Journey into History – August 15
Cruise to the Cove – August 23
BIB Kansas City Barbeque Contest – August 24 & 25
Autumn in the Village – September 16
Fountain Lake Power Boat Races – September 16
Fall Festival on Broadway – September 22
Big Island Rendezvous – October 6 & 7

The great outdoors right at home in Austin
By Kevin Coss
Austin residents looking to get their fill of the
outdoors this summer will find a range of opportunities for all ages at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center.
Austin residents can find many of them during the Summer Solstice Ecoblitz, a free, familyoriented event that takes place on June 23.
Activities will include timed canoe races at the
pond, “scooping the pond” to search for
aquatic insects and touring the hiking trail on
access vehicles, said John Duren, environmental
education intern at the Nature Center. One activity, geocaching, will allow participants to hunt
for hidden objects using GPS coordinates.
Those interested in attending the Ecoblitz
can register in person or by calling the Nature
Center at 507-437-7519.
A smaller variety of similar opportunities will
take place regularly from 1 to 5 p.m. on Thursdays, the Nature Center will host Thursday Nature Play, Duren said. Families can look forward
to canoeing, pond scooping and other activities.
Several days during the summer will feature
special guests, including dragonfly expert Kurt

“If you’ve never been here before, a lot of
hiking and bird-watching activities are available,” Duren said. May and early June are the
best times to go bird-watching, since the tree
cover is not as thick and is less likely to obscure
birds from view.
The trail is relatively flat terrain that stretches
about ten miles through the Nature Center’s
507 acres of land, Duren said. A lot of the trail,
which is free and open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.,
goes through prairie. Other parts lead past deciduous trees, which shed their leaves in the
winter, and a few coniferous trees, sometimes
called evergreens.
There’s also a visitor center, which feature
educational and interactive activities as well as
a few live animals like snakes and salamanders,
will still be open.
The Nature Center will offer summer classes
for all ages, especially for ages 14 and younger.
Duren wants to remind visitors part of the
Nature Center’s rules are that it doesn’t allow
pets, and visitors are not permitted to remove
plants or animals from the area.
“One of the things we do is try to preserve
that nature as much as possible,” he said.

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AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - DISCOVER SUMMER

OUT & ABOUT: CLEAR LAKE, IOWA; CHATEAU RACEWAY

Little town,
big weekend
By Matt Peterson
Clear Lake is the little town that goes
big almost every weekend during the summer.
The big staple of Clear Lake, however, is
the Fourth of July celebration, June 29
through July 5. Seven days are jam-packed
with plenty to do, including a carnival, live
bands, an arts and crafts fair, parade, fireworks and way too much more.
But summer isn’t over after Fourth of
July in Clear Lake. Bicycles, Blues & BBQ
Festival is July 6 to 8. There’s three days of
biking, barbecue, pancakes, fundraisers
and most exciting, a $13,500 race purse
plus $3,500 in merchandise prizes for the
weekend bicycling event.
July still carries on with an independent
film festival, Antique Boat Show and Lakeside Dixie Fest. The summer wraps up with
an early August car show and then end-ofsummer beach party. Check out clearlakeiowa.com for more information.

Brady Krohnberg (26) leads the first heat into the front straightaway during the Pure Stock heats last year at Chateau Raceway.
Herald file photo

Raceway revs
up for 2012
Friday fun
By Rocky Hulne
There’s nothing quite like a
Friday night at the race track.
The summer will be roaring
once again at Chateau Raceway
in Lansing as racers come from all
around the area to hit the track
every Friday night.
Chateau features USRA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, WISSOTA
Midwest Modifieds, WISSOTA
Street Stocks, Chateau Pure
Stocks and Hornets.
The track is a third of a mile
with semi-banked dirt and a
clay/black gumbo mix.
Chateau will host the UMSS
Sprint Car Special June 22 and
the Cornbelt Late Models Aug.
10.
The USMTS Chase for the
Hunt will be held Aug. 31.

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012

15

TRADITIONS: SPAM TURNS 75

The summer of Spam
By Adam Harringa
Love it or not, Spam is a part of Austin history. And this summer will be all about the
Hormel Foods Corp. canned luncheon meat’s
75th birthday.
The first can of Spam rolled off the factory
line on July 5, 1937, according to Hormel, and
the company will celebrate the spiced ham’s anniversary — along with the completion of its
corporate office expansion — with an open
house on July 28. Hormel Foods will honor the
community and home of the Spam brand in
Austin with a late-month festival full of entertainment and history.
“The Spam brand has been loved by millions
of families for 75 years. The fact that recipes
from all around the world have been passed
down from generation to generation is a testament to the relevancy of the Spam brand,”
Spam brand product manager Nicole Behne
said in May.
In 1936, Geo. A. Hormel & Company devised a recipe for a 12-once can of spiced ham.
But the new product was quickly copied by
competitors, according to Hormel, so thenpresident Jay C. Hormel decided to coin a brand
name with a distinct identity. Hormel says it offered a $100 prize for the best name, and Kenneth Daigneau, actor-brother of Hormel Vice
President Ralph Daigneau, came up with Spam.
Hormel soon began a marketing campaign,
and radio commercials played across the country. During World War II in 1941, Hormel shifted
to wartime production, and Spam became a
staple for Allied troops, Hormel says, and as production increased, the canned meat gained notoriety as “the ham that didn’t pass its physical”
and a “meatball without basic training.”
But Spam survived, and Hormel sold 1 billion cans of Spam by 1959, 3 billion by 1980
and 4 billion by 1986. According to Hormel,
more than 122 million cans of the Spam family
of products are sold worldwide each year, including 90 million in the U.S. Hormel says
Hawaii has the highest consumption of Spam
per capita.
“Spam products evoke a sense of community and inspire creativity. Consumers are always
coming up with new and exciting ways to eat
Spam,” Behne said. “Hormel Foods is very
proud of its all-American iconic brand.”
To celebrate 75 years of Spam, Hormel
launched its first campaign spokescharacter, “Sir
Can A-Lot,” in TV and online commercials this
year.

The Herald is looking
for more unique
Spam recipes. If you
would like to share,
email them to
adam.harringa
@austindaily
herald.com.
Directions
• Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly coat muffin pan with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, grate Spam Classic.
Add eggs, oats and milk; mix well.
• Fill muffin cups two-thirds full with
Spam mixture. With back of spoon,
lightly press mixture into cups.
• In small bowl, whisk together brown
sugar, vinegar, water and mustard;
lightly spoon glaze mixture over Spam
mixture.
• Bake cupcakes 25 to 30 minutes or
until mixture is set; remove from oven.
• Place oven rack 2 to 3 inches from
heat source; heat broiler.
• Top each cupcake with potatoes; broil
2 to 3 minutes or until potatoes are
lightly browned. Garnish with chives.

The new ranger station at Jellystone Park is nearly complete. The owners expect all of its indoor features
to be open this year. Herald file photos

A devastating fire last fall was far from
enough to keep the owners of Jellystone Park
from throwing in the towel.
“There was no question we would rebuild,”
said Tammy Westrich, who operates Jellystone
Park with her husband and parents, just east of
Austin on Interstate 90.
After six months of rebuilding and a brandnew, state-of-the-art lodge, gaming room,
event center and bath/shower house, Jellystone
is open for business — with much more to
offer.
The new lodge, called the Ranger Station,
offers new Jellystone merchandise, a larger
kitchen and dining area, weekend buffets,
more games, an adult room with cable and
WiFi and an event center for celebrations.
The pool and waterslides still remain but are
now accompanied by a brand new showering

facility with washers and dryers, as well. Adjacent to that building lies a new outdoor event
center for concerts and movies.
“Oh, there’s no comparison,” Westrich’s father and Jellystone owner Don Tolney said
about the facilities then and now.
Westrich clearly remembers how one thing
stood out after the fire: the statue of Yogi Bear
still standing among the pile of rubble. That’s
when she knew things would be OK. And with
her campground owner/operator certification,
she’s had the ingenuity to employ some new
practices.
Westrich mentioned Jellystone will offer a
new feature: daytime summer passes. Westrich
said visitors who don’t want to camp can now
have full access to all of the camps features. Furthermore, people passing by on the interstate
will be able to call in and order food to go.
For
more
information,
go
to
beavertrails.com.

AREA CAMPGROUNDS
By Trey Mewes
What’s The best part about summer?
Camping! There’s plenty of outdoor opportunities for aspiring Mower County campers
and summertime is the best time to enjoy
staying outside. You don’t have to go far to
find good, clean outdoor fun with many of
the amenities you’d find at home.

River Bend Campground
13380 State Highway 105
Lyle
507-583-2979
About: Take a trip to the River Bend
Campground for a picturesque camping experience. Offers basic amenities, firewood
and playground at wooded sites along the
river.

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park
Camp Resort at Beaver Trails
21943 630th Avenue, Austin
507-584-6611
About: Come down to Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp Resort for good old fashioned fun. There’s camping, a pool
(complete with waterslide), volleyball, a
giant jumping bag and a theme every weekend this summer perfect for a family outing.

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - DISCOVER SUMMER

Lake Louise State Park
1.5 miles north of LeRoy on County
Road 14.
507-352-5111
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks
/lake_louise/index.html
About: Lake Louise has got campgrounds, swimming beaches, bike trails
and more. Connected to the as-yet-unfinished Shooting Star Trail, this camp also
has horse trails and a canoeing class on
June 12. Open through Labor Day.

Oakwoods Trails Campground
23614 890th Ave
Austin
507-437-6165
About: The perfect place for ATV offroading. There’s large campsites for tenting and RVs, volleyball, fishing and more
than six miles of trails, including a mud
bog, speed strip and water run.

Austin-Albert Lea KOA
84259 County Road 46 Hayward
I-90, Exit 166
507-373-5170
About: A great place for RVs and cabin
rentals. There’s a large pool, a game
room, theme weekends, a nine-hole golf

course and driving range next door, not to
mention a spacious meeting hall.

Myre — Big Island State
Park
19499 780th Avenue
Albert Lea
507-379-3403
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks
/myre_big_island/index.html
About: Make time this summer for hiking, camping, canoeing and even a little
geocaching at Albert Lea’s own state park,
just three miles southeast of town. This is
the last summer that state parks are offering a Geocaching Wildlife Safari, so intrepid explorers need to start combing
through Myre — Big Island as soon as
possible.

Grand getaway: In-laws open scrapbook retreat
By Trey Mewes
Looking for a nice, relaxing, artistic vacation
close to home? Look no further than the Whispering Willows cottage in Adams, Minn.
Whispering Willows, the brainchild of sisters-in-law Christi Kiefer and Michele Merten,
is a twist on the cottage home concept: a
“quilting and scrapbooking retreat home.”
“It’s similar to if you would go and rent a
cabin up north,” Kiefer said. “You get the entire
house to use.”
The duo created one of the most unique
crafts and scrapbooking opportunities in southern Minnesota in fall 2010 after spending time
with their husbands in Faribault. While the men
were ice fishing, Kiefer and Merten, both scrap-

booking aficionados, thought about hosting
their own getaway.
“We both said, ‘Geez, maybe we should
buy a lakehouse and we’ll convince our
spouses to go in with us,’” Kiefer said. “Everything snowballed from there and one thing
lead to another.”
After finding the perfect home in Adams —
Kiefer lives in Taopi and Merten lives near
Adams — the two set to work creating a haven
for artistic enjoyment. The 3,000-square-foot
house can accommodate up to 12 guests, and
is completely furnished with everyday items
and plenty of craft supplies. The main floor is
set up for artistic excursions, including scrapbooking, knitting, beading, quilting and more.
The upstairs has a massage room where guests

can enjoy some quiet in a massage chair, while
the home’s downstairs has a living room area
including a TV and DVD player.
While many use the four-bedroom, threebath home for creative endeavors, Kiefer said
Whispering Willows has hosted wedding parties, mom and daughter trips, people interested in biking the Shooting Star Trail, and
even a few massage therapists hired by the
guests.
“We just wanted the house to feel very
comfortable and at home,” she said.
Whispering Willows Cottage is located at
107 Third St. in Adams. For more information, contact Whispering Willows at 507-4387577
or
visit
http://whisperingwillowscottage.com.

Bicyclists taking advantage of new, longer Shooting Star Trail
By Matt Peterson
Bike riders can pedal the local trails a little bit further this summer.
The Shooting Star Trail, which received a
DNR grant and expansion last November,
now stretches its way into Rose Creek.
“We’ve been waiting 10 years for this,”
said Becky Hartwig, Prairie Visions committee member and owner of Rose Pedaler in
Rose Creek. The trail passes right by the

Rose Pedaler cabin and gift shop, which recently switched to a quick-stop, deli-style
store where riders can grab sandwiches,
desserts, soups, burgers and more.
Hartwig hopes to soon hold a ribbon
cutting ceremony for the new trail extension.
A $456,000 cost share with the Department of Natural Resources extended the
trail from Adams to Rose Creek last fall, so
the trail now runs about 22 miles — all the

way from Rose Creek to LeRoy.
Further plans aim to connect the trail to
Austin, and someday, the Blazing Star Trail
in Albert Lea.
Mower County Public Works Director
Mike Hanson said the county will look for
another DNR grant for the extension; and
though he said the county is moving closer
to securing funds, nothing is final.
“It’s not finalized yet, but it’s getting
closer,” he said, and added the project

could take about three months and will
cost several hundred thousand dollars.
For now, Hartwig and bike enthusiasts
are excited for the Shooting Star Trail’s 14th
annual bike ride, which will be held July 14
and offer a 100-mile ride, 60-mile ride and
45-mile ride. The trail will also be host to a
family bike ride day on Oct. 6, 2012.
Register online and find up-to-date information on fees and options at shootingstartrail.org.

Grand Meadow celebrates
150 years of history
By Matt Peterson
Grand Meadow is ready for a celebration
150 years in the making.
Grand Meadow’s annual town celebration, Meadowfest, will be held from June 22
to 24, and will serve as the town’s sesquicentennial celebration. It’s going to be much
bigger than anyone has seen, according to
event coordinators. According to 12-year
Meadowfest committee member Greg
Lamp, the community has done its homework.
“In addition to the traditional events,
we’ve got quite a number of additional
events coming,” Lamp said, and added that
2012 will host nearly twice as many activities as last year.
Among continuing events like a car show,
mud bog, and dozens of kids’ games —
committee members have spent seven years
bringing in some of the most interesting
events they could find.

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - DISCOVER SUMMER

GR A N D M E A D OW : M E A D OW F ES T
June 22-24
And with 150 years’ history to rehash,
Mower County Historical Society Executive
Director Dustin Heckman is jumping on
board, as well. He has helped organize several events at the Grand Army of the Republic Hall, including an Abe Lincoln
impersonator. Heckman and Lamp will participate in a vintage baseball game between
the Rochester Roosters and Grand Meadow
Nine, and a cemetery walk will feature actors portraying some of Grand Meadow’s
most famous and influential figures.
As always, events will carry the festival
late into the afternoon Sunday, but that’s
not all; Lamp said this year’s Fourth of July
fireworks will be twice as spectacular, as well.
For up-to-date information, go to cityofgrandmeadow.com/meadowfest.

Mike
Braaten
checks out
an Oldsmobile 442 belonging to
Dewey Lonergan last
year at
Meadowfest
in Grand
Meadow.
Herald file
photo

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012

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AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - DISCOVER SUMMER

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FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012

23

OUT & ABOUT: AUSTIN AREA FARMERS’ MARKET

Home grown, home sold
By Trey Mewes
The Austin Area Farmers’ Market
is back this summer and better than
ever.
The market is open from 3:30 to
6 p.m. Mondays at Oak Park Mall
and made a big move to N. Main
Street from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on Thursdays.
“I have always dreamed about
making our farmer’s market a vibrant place to be, and I think the
move is the best thing we could
do,” said Heidi Harrabi, Farmers’
Market organizer.

The move back to Main Street
came after several downtown businesses sought ways to liven things
up during the week. Residents can
expect to see some occasional live
entertainment and a few downtown
business stalls when the Farmers’
Market comes every Thursday.
There will still be all the homemade and homegrown products
people have come to love, from
soap to fresh produce and more.
The Farmers’ Market is scheduled to
run Mondays and Thursdays every
week through Sept. 27.

The Austin Area Farmers’ market is moving to Main Street
this year with the hope of giving businesses a chance to take
part, too. Herald file photo

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24

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - DISCOVER SUMMER

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT: AUSTIN ARTS FESTIVAL

Festival to show plant’s potential
By Eric Johnson

Celebrating art

At its heart, the idea of the festival is
Some art-minded Austin residents simple awareness; highlighting the various
aren’t waiting for Vision 2020 to come avenues of art.
“We want to celebrate the arts in
into fruition eight years down the line.
Plans are coming into play to convert Austin,” Rietz said.
A lot of eyes were focused on the utilithe downtown Austin Utilities building
into a house for art for two days in August. ties building with a variety of ideas
The Austin Artworks Festival will be held swirling around the atmospheric complex,
Aug. 25-26 and will feature art from all fueled by the idea of what it could be.
“We wanted to show what that space
areas including music and food. It’s a
move by organizers to tout what is possi- would look like as an arts venue,” Germain
said. “I think it’s a
ble at the old building
great place. There
and Vision 2020.
are a lot of archiConversion of the
tectural
aspects
Austin Utilities building
that would be inwas one of 10 ideas reteresting.”
vealed as the final Vision
2020 projects back in
Future: Near
April.
and far
“The idea is go get
While the applipeople into the utilities
cation process hasbuilding and get people
n’t been opened
interested,” said Bonnie
yet, artists can exRietz, one of the event
pect to see someorganizers.
thing very soon.
According to the ViOne of the biggest
sion 2020 idea, the utillimitations will be
ities building will be
the number of
part of an “arts corriartists. The turbine
dor” that will run along
room will be the
Fourth Avenue south in
only room availdowntown Austin. It will
When: Aug. 25-26
able inside the
include well known
What:
Featuring art, music
main building as
buildings
like
the
and food
well as the outside
Hormel Historic Home
garages.
and Paramount Theatre.
Where: Austin Utilities
It will become
The idea actually
building
increasingly
imcame from ideas being
portant when you
thrown around in the
add
everything
Hormel Foundation’s finance committee. A core group of about else along with ideas still being consid20-25 people split into five different com- ered. Already, five food venders have been
finalized. There has also been thoughts
mittees.
“A lot of people are involved in moving given to glass blowers, sculptors and possible activities for kids.
this forward,” Rietz said.
But for the time being the committee is
In the beginning, however, the idea
wasn’t an arts festival. According to Jennie just looking forward to the several appliGermain, project director, it started off cants it hopes it gets.
The hope for the festival itself is that it
with more of a broader range.
“At the time we were talking about arts continues, even if it doesn’t continue in
and culture in Austin in general,” Germain the utilities building.
“The group is going to meet afterwards
said. “We weren’t sure where Vision 2020
and talk about what went well,” Rietz said.
was going at the time.”

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - DISCOVER SUMMER

Plans for the utilities building include both inside and outside spaces as well as possibly closing Fourth
Avenue. However, space inside will be limited to only the main turbine room. Herald file photo
“We’re really excited to have another festival.”
The festival, though still some months
away, has a good start not only to showcase the arts in Austin but to take this first
move toward a Vision 2020 goal.
“I’m excited,” Germain said. “To have
this first step it means things are actually
starting to come together.”

The summer sun means one thing for food enthusiasts: It’s time to get out the grill.
While summertime is the perfect time for some
outdoor grub, there’s plenty of debate surrounding
the big question whether to barbecue or to grill.
“Honestly, they go hand in hand on some
times,” said Bob Nelson, owner of the Ole Barn BBQ
restaurant in Austin.
When making ribs, or brisket, or pork shoulder,
Nelson said it’s important to have low heat and a
long, slow cooking time to draw out the barbecue
flavor before cranking the heat up to finish.
Make sure you know how hot your meat needs
to cook. Chicken, for example, needs to barbecue
at a slightly higher temperature than other meat.
Make sure your heat source is steady, and be willing
to experiment with different sauces and heating
sources like flavored wood chips to give your meat
a little extra zing.
For things like burgers and hot dogs though,
there’s no question the grill is king.
“By far it’s the grill,” he said. “You’ve got get
steaks, chicken breasts, you’ve got to get it on that
grill. There’s no question it’s the best taste you’re
going to see.”

Of course, grilling purists prefer charcoal and
wood as opposed to gas and electric heating, according to Nelson. Lump charcoal is making a
comeback as the eminent grilling method to bring
out the best taste in meat as well.
Getting the perfect burger takes a little time,
however. Cooks-to-be need to season burger patties (on both sides) while getting the grill up to between 400 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the
prep’s done, the good cook uses one of the best
tools he or she has: patience.
“Let the burger cook,” Nelson advises. “A lot of
people will grab that thing right away.”
Cooks need to let burgers sit for a while before
turning. If the burger sticks, then it’s clearly not
ready.
“The food will tell you when it’s ready to be
turned,” Nelson said.
And above all else, don’t play peekaboo with
your meat.
“Don’t keep lifting the lid,” advises Marc Shapiro,
Ole Barn BBQ kitchen manager. “No peekaboo.”
There’s plenty of things to cook on a grill as well.
Everything from seasoned vegetables to even pizza
can be cooked on a grill, provided you have the
equipment and patience to sear some good eats.

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - DISCOVER SUMMER

OUT & ABOUT: MUNICIPAL POOL, PARK & REC

From the pool to sports, Park and Rec. offers many youth activities
By Kevin Coss
As temperatures rise and the days grow longer, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry hopes youth
will get outside and enjoy the weather.
“They want kids off the couch and involved,” said Department Director Kim Underwood said. “It’s a great opportunity [for children] to check out a sport and see if they
like it.”
Youth programs this summer include tee ball, tennis,
swim lessons, track, soccer, archery and golf, with varying
age ranges for each activity. Over 500 children participated in these programs last summer, according to a 2011
department review. That number doesn’t include those
who went out for sports in associated youth programs—
like basketball and softball—and those included in the mixture of 417 youth and adults registrants who took swim
lessons.
Underwood said the benefits of summer programs extend beyond the healthful effects of exercise. “It teaches
them participation, good sportsmanship and team camaraderie,” she said.
One of the department’s goals this year is to get young
high school students to participate in sports like kickball.
“We’re really trying to get into that age group,” Underwood said.

Ian Krause, left, and Tony Shada jump into the Austin Municipal
Swimming Pool last year after a break. Herald file photo
Youth programs don’t start until June 11, and Underwood said many activities are still open. Apart from
archery and tennis, which the department limits in size for
certain age groups, activities typically expand to fit their
registrants.
Summer activities in Austin aren’t restricted just to
youth. The department will also offer adult volleyball, softball, kickball and Square Bag Round Hole leagues, though

the deadlines for many of these sports have already
passed.
Twice during the summer, the department will host a
free track meet. The event will allow children and adults,
with the minimum age being 3. Participants can show up
at 6:15 p.m. at Wescott Field on June 19 or July 19.
“No preregistration,” Underwood said. “Just go on that
day.”
To combat the summer heat, the Austin Municipal Pool
will open at 1 p.m. June 11. The pool includes a main pool,
splash pad and water slide. Pool membership tags will be
available at the pool once it opens and at the Park and Rec.
Department before that.
This year, the department offers a $10 discount for
those who sign up for lessons and a swim tag at the same
time, Underwood said. There will also be a 10-week Saturday swim lessons program for those who can’t make it
on weekdays.
At the end of the summer, even pooches can take a
dive. The Doggie Dip will invite Austin dog owners to
bring their canines along. The event is scheduled for Aug.
24, which is after the pool’s regular season end date of
Aug. 19.
“You can take your pet to the pool and either swim with
them or let them swim,” Underwood said. There could be
dog-related prizes and events, she added.

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AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - DISCOVER SUMMER

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DIAGNOSTICS
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for any service call
placed from time of ad
till June 3, 2012.
Not available with
other offers.
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012

27

TRADITIONS: SMALL TOWN FESTIVALS
LYL E: INDEPENDENCE D AY

little bit bigger,” she said.

June 29 - July 1
INSIGHT:
More than 100 years of tradition will
continue this summer in Lyle.
Lyle’s Independence Day Celebration
returns with an early Fourth on June 29,
30 and July 1.
“It’s just a fun time, you know, small
town celebration that’s pretty big for the
size that we are,” said Lyle City Clerk
Diana Witt.
Since the festival is before the Fourth,
Witt said it attracts many people from
outside of town who come to see family
and friends.
“I just know that there’s a lot of people in town that weekend,” Witt said.
The festival really peaked in the 1960s
and ‘70s, but Witt said it’s been growing
steadily in recent years.
“It’s just that every year it grows just a

A DA MS : DA IRY D AYS
June 8 - 10

ACTIVITIES:
The weekend kicks off with food specials, a beanbag tournaments and music at
Lyle Liquor on Friday night.
On Saturday, the truck, tractor and semi
pull returns at 10 a.m., and the classic car
show runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day caps off
with an 8 p.m. street dance at the Legion.
Sunday kicks off with a church service in
the park.
The grand parade is at noon. During the
parade, the 1962 Lyle boys’ basketball team
that went to state will celebrate its 50th anniversary, and there will be a brief ceremony in the park for the team after the
parade.
Other events include Little Miss Lyle at 3
p.m., and a 4 p.m. talent show highlights a
packed day that concludes with fireworks
at dusk.
“I know that last year it was spectacular,”
Witt said.

INSIGHT:
At least one Adams resident is hoping a new
summer event will help boost a high school sport.
Paul Kurtz is planning the first annual Southland Silver Smash, a wrestling tournament to be
held in conjunction with Dairy Days at the football stadium at 7 p.m. June 8.
“Our main reason is to get kids more interested in wrestling,” Kurtz said.
Kurtz said he’s hoping for more than 100
wrestlers from preschool through eighth-grade.
Applications are available at www.the
guillotine.com/youth/1112/opens/southland
smash.html

The cost is $20 and is only by pre-registration.
Registrations must be post-marked by May 29.
Kurtz said he hopes the event will be a boost
to Dairy Days, and he said he hopes it becomes a
yearly event that is well attended.
He said he already has wrestlers signed up
from Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin.
ACTIVITIES:
Many of the Dairy Days events will be at the
fire hall or city park. There will be a golf tournament at Cedar River golf course, parade at 1 p.m.
Sunday and many other events.

Look to the
Austin Daily Herald
all summer for coverage
on small town festivals
and other events.

www.austindailyherald.com

Floats and flag carriers get ready to kick off the parade in Lyle last year during the annual
Fourth of July Celebration. Herald file photo

28

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - DISCOVER SUMMER

TRADITIONS: SMALL TOWN FESTIVALS
L E R O Y: S U M M E R F E S T
July 20-22
INSIGHT:
LeRoy is getting ready to celebrate summer in style again this year, as Summer Fest
is scheduled for July 20 to 22.
"I think it's a time for a the community
to come together and showcase some of
the fun things we have to do here," said

City Clerk Patty White.
ACTIVITIES:
Festivities get underway Friday with a
free family movie, a bean bag tournament
and a street dance featuring the band Dirty
Word.
LeRoy's garden tours return Saturday. The
second annual Ray Kiefer Memorial Tractor
Pull will be held at Northern Country Co-Op.
Saturday will also feature a car and motor-

cycle show, co-ed volleyball tournament, a
triathlon and duathlon, a used book and
video sale at the library, the windsor chop
supper, and the day will close with a variety
show by the LeRoy Community Theater at
the high school gym.
On Sunday, the fire departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chicken
feed will be held earlier in the day.
"That brings in large amounts of people,"
White said.
The parade will follow at around 2 p.m.

LeRoy firefighters Danny Hanson and Scott
Osmundson, back, compete in the water wars
last year at LeRoy's Summerfest.
Herald file photo

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - DISCOVER SUMMER

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012

29

TRADITIONS: SMALL TOWN FESTIVALS
B R O W NS D A L E F E S T
July 20-22
INSIGHT:
Brownsdale residents will have a good time for a
good cause in July.
Brownsdale Fest will return to combine fun, fellowship, fundraising and information. Along with
being the annual summer festival, the weekend
event also ties in fire safety.
"Obviously the awareness is a big thing for us,"
said organizer David Pike.
The event raises funds for the department to
buy things that aren't in the budget, like defibrillators, rescue sleds and thermal imaging equipment.
The firefighters will also have booths set up for
fire safety equipment, including a booth to inspect
and refill fire extinguishers.

ACTIVITIES:
Brownsdale Fest gets underway with a car show,
beer garden, concessions and a silent Auction Friday,
July 20. The night closes with music by DJ Sound.
Saturday starts with breakfast served by the firefighters, who later host a hog roast that night. There
will also be inflatables in the park, a beer garden,
bingo games and a bean bag tournament.
There will be sidewalk sales Saturday, with many

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businesses and booths open with items for sale.
"It's good for the businesses to attract people
into town," Pike said said of Brownsdale Fest.
DJ Sound will be back to provide music for a
"Tropical Night" Saturday, but people are encouraged to bring costumes, with the best ones receiving
prizes.
The Rohler Rink will be offering deals all weekend for $3 admission.

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TRADITIONS: SMALL TOWN FESTIVALS
H AYFIELD: HE Y D AYS
July 26-29
INSIGHT:
It will be a homecoming in Hayfield the last
weekend in July.
Hey Days is celebrating its 25th anniversary of
the festival this summer.The celebration will feature
the return of the popular Budweiser Clydesdales for
an entire week.
“We’re just trying to do things a little bigger, the
parade will be bigger, the fireworks will be bigger,”
said organizer Lana Mindrup.
A B-25 bomb plane from World War II will be
on hand to mark the occasion. Rides will be
available Saturday, and the plane will fly over the

parade Sunday.
Also returning will be the Old Fashioned Firefighters Chicken Fry, which will expand for the anniversary into a reunion for past fire chiefs and
firemen.
ACTIVITIES:
The Thursday queen coronation will also be a reunion, as many past queens are expected to be on
hand.
There will be a number of other events throughout the weekend, like a car show, an antique tractor
show, a mud bog, antique fire trucks, inflatables for
kids and fireworks.

Tony Wright, of Rochester, plows through the mud during the mud bogs last year at Hey Days in Hayfield. Herald file photo

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - DISCOVER SUMMER

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012

31

TRADITIONS: SMALL TOWN FESTIVALS
B LOOMING P R A IRE: FO URTH O F JU LY
July 3 - 4
INSIGHT:
The Fourth of July will be a chance for
Blooming Prairie residents to show what their
town is all about.
“It showcases your community,” said Becky
Noble, Blooming Prairie Chamber of Commerce director.
Noble said there’s a lot going on in the
community people don’t know about, because
many people just pass through on U.S. Highway 218.
“A lot’s going on that you don’t see if you
don’t get off 218,” she said.

Cailyn Bussler, 4, winds up to launch a frog as part of a game in Blooming Prairie’s Park last year during the Fourth of July celebration. Herald file photo

Street Dance will be held Tuesday night.
The parade will be one highlight Wednesday at 2:30 p.m., followed by performances by
drumlines Su Fu Du and Sticks of Fury. Sweet
Rides Car Show and a tractor pull will also be
held Wednesday.
A number of events will be available in Central Park over the weekend, including bingo,
mini golf, a magic show and more.
Bands Mischief and Mayhem (a piano act),
the Morning Kings and Arrows at Dawn will
play leading into the fireworks, which cap the
festival at dusk Wednesday.

ACTIVITIES:
The two days kick off with an antique tractor show Tuesday, July 3, followed by a pedal
tractor pull.
A magic show, teen dance and the J&H

RO SE C REEK : FUN DAYS
July 13 - 15
INSIGHT:
Rose Creek’s Fun Days will kick into high
gear July 13 to 15, featuring a diverse set of
events from dinners to kickball.
“It’s just a fun weekend,” said Wendy
Landherr, one of the organizers.
ACTIVITIES:
The festival kicks off — literally — Friday
night with the eighth annual Black Sox
Kickball Tourney.

Events continue Saturday with the annual Firemen’s Windsor Chop Supper.
The second annual car show will be at
noon Sunday as a benefit for the American
Foundation for Suicide Prevention. All of
the fees will go to the AFSP.
A number of other events will be held
throughout the weekend, including softball
and basketball competitions, kids games
and activities, hole-in-one golf, beanbags,
firemen’s water fight, a medallion hunt, and
several food stands.

538 Hwy 218 South, Blooming Prairie, MN 55917

The Black Sox Kickball Tournament will again be a big part of this year’s Fun Days in Rose
Creek. Herald file photo

32

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012

AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - DISCOVER SUMMER

Please join in and participate
in Mower Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Recycling
program. As a Mower County
resident all you have to do is
stop at the Recycling Center
at 1111 8th Ave. NE, Austin
and pick up a set of three
recycling bins.
Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs., & Fri., 1-5pm
FEEL FREE TO CALL
IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT
RECYCLING.

Local courses to host
club championships
By Rocky Hulne
While hitting the greens is a good way to
relax on a nice summer day, there are those
who like to see how they stack up with the rest
of the field at their local golf course.
That’s when club championships come to
play and there are a few of those going on in
the Mower County area this summer.

Austin Country Club will host its men’s club
championship July 21, its women’s club championship July 18 and its junior club championship Aug. 7.
Meadow Greens Golf Course in Austin will
host its club championships in August and
Cedar River Golf Course in Adams will host its
men’s and women’s club championship Aug. 5
and its senior club championship Aug. 3.

Whether golfing for leisure or competition, there are plenty of golf courses to swing and putt your way
through an afternoon. Many local courses will also host club championships. Herald file photos

AREA GOLF COURSES
River Oaks, Austin
54384 244th St., Austin,
MN 55912
(507) 433-9098
rivergolf1.com
—18 holes
—Par 71
—5,987 yards
—$15 for nine holes or
$25 for 18
The River Oaks, which
lies along the edge of the
Cedar River, winds its way
through moderately
wooded area and contains a
mix of open and narrow
fairways with several long
and challenging par 5s.
............
Meadow Greens, Austin
25238 540 Avenue
Austin, MN 55912
(507) 433-4878
meadowgreensgc.com
—18 holes
—Par 69
—5,950 yards
—$14 for nine holes or
$20 for $18
Meadow Greens, which
lies directly adjacent to the
River Oaks, plays shorter in
the front than in the back
with a creek, ponds and

Get some variety in that golf game this
summer by trying different courses. After all,
who can hone his or her game without testing
the challenges new terrain, sandtraps and
tricky greens? Here is a guide to a few area
courses in, near and within an hour drive of
Austin.
— By Matt Peterson
Wedgewood is a marshy
course with plenty of wetlands, ponds and plays as a
high-class, links-style setup.
............
Green Lea Golf Course
101 W Richway Dr., Albert Lea, MN 56007
(507) 373-1061
greenlea.com
—18 holes
—Par 72
—6,213 yards
—green fees: $15 for
nine or $25, $28 on weekends
Green Lea hosts a
menagerie of mature trees,
well-defined fairways and
plenty of obstacles such as
sandtraps, water hazards
and challenges golfers with
risk/reward holes.
............

—5,916 yards
—$14 for nine holes and
$18 for 18.
Maple Valley is stowed
away, well off the highway
and dives its way down into
bluff country. The terrain
varies from flat to very hilly,
is dotted with trees and
hugs a river for most of the
course.
............
Oak Summit
2751 County Road 16
SW, Rochester, MN 55902
(507) 252-1808
oaksummitgolf.com
—18 holes
—Par 70
—6,434 yards
—$17 for holes and $26
for 18
Oak Summit is loaded
with hills, fast, challenging
greens and mostly open fairways throughout. The
course hosts several tricky
green placements and
slopes, as well.
............
Riverview Greens
1800 Clubhouse Drive
NE Stewartville, MN 55976
(507) 533-9393

riverviewgreens.com
—18 holes
—Par 70
—5,108 yards
—$14 for nine holes or
$18 for 18
Riverview greens, which
lengthened its course several years ago, has a combination of open and tight
fairways, ponds, and contends with the Root River for
part of the course.
............
Root River Country
Club
13029 County 3 Spring
Valley, MN 55975
(507) 346-2501
rootrivercountryclub.com
—9 holes
—Par 36
—2,959 yards
—$15 for nine holes or
$20 for 18
Root River Country Club
offers a gentle slope, two
chances to cross the Root
River, plenty of dog-legging
and challenging shots
around trees in just nine
holes.
............
All yardages designated
FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012